Bottle cap



y 25, 1965 M. GREENSTEIN 3,185,332

BOTTLE CAP Filed Sept. 14, 1962 Fiq.4

MURRAY GREENSTEIN ATTOR N 57 Patented May 25,1965

3,185,332 BOTTLE CAP Murray Greenstein, Codi Products Ltd., Lesnnli Road, Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 223,778 4 Claims. (Cl. 21538) This invention relates to a sealing device for bottles and is particularly concerned with a device of this kind which also includes means for opening bottles.

Many liquids including carbonated beverages are sold in narrow neck bottles closed with so-called crown caps which are crimped over the mouth of the bottle. In removing such caps they are often so badly distorted as to make them useless for rescaling the bottle and, in any case, for proper sealing a machine which will recrimp them is required. In some instances a sufficiently tight closure can be obtained with a cork or a simple friction cap. Where, however, it is desired to reseal a bottle containing a readily volatile liquid or one in which pressure from dissolved gas will occur, as with carbonated beverages, a tighter seal is necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle cap which is easily applied and which forms a tight seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle cap of the character described which carries with it a convenient bottle opener.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination bottle cap and opener which is of simple and inexpensive construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination bottle cap and opener which is readily maintained in sanitary condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combined bottle cap and opener in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1, of the combination cap and opener;

FIGURE 3 is a side View showing the device of the invention in position to remove a crown cap from a bottle;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, similar to FIGURE 3, of the device of the invention applied to a bottle as a seal, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the cap in place on a bottle as shown in FIG- URE 4.

As will be seen from the drawings, particularly in FIGURES l and 2, the novel device of the present invention comprises two principal parts, a body portion 11 and a handle or locking portion 12 which are pivotally joined. The body portion 11 comprises a flat base portion 13 provided with a depending flange 14 of varying height and configuration around the periphery thereof. One end of the base portion 13 is rounded as shown at 15 while the other end thereof 16 is essentially rectangular. At the rounded extremity of the base 13 the peripheral flange 14 is extended to form an arcuate tongue 17, the flange and tongue being bent to have an S shape in cross section and the outer loop of the S projecting inwardly from the flange.

Along the sides of the rectangular base portion 16 the flange 14 is extended outwardly to form parallel, spaced bearing portions 18. As best shown in FIGURE 1, each of the portions 18 is provided with an integral, outwardly projecting, elongated boss 19 in which the ends 23 of a roller 22 are movably held. The bearing portions 18 are also provided with inwardly projecting pivots 24 for connection of the handle or locking portion 12.

The handle portion 12 comprises an elongated base 25 which flares outwardly at its outer end and has a peripheral flange 26. The base 25 adjacent the flared end thereof is cut out, forming the orifice 27 and the portions of the base longitudinally adjacent the orifice are bent downwardly to provide cap engaging portions 28 and 29. At the inner end of'the handle portion 12 the flange 26 is enlarged to form oppositely disposed, substantially parallel, arcuate cams 31 the lower edges of which, as viewed in FIGURE 2, are bent inwardly as at 32 to provide enlarged contact areas. Registering holes are provided in the earns 31 by means of which the handle portion 12 is mounted on the pivots 24 provided on the bearing portions 18 of the body portion 11.

The roller 22 is shaped as a concave spindle and comprises axially projecting pin portions 23 which are held in the bosses 19 whereby the roller is rotatably mounted and substantially centered between the bearing portions 18 of the body portion 11. Within the rounded end of the body portion 11 there is secured by a suitable adhesive a sealing disc 35 of durable, resilient material such as rubber, polyethylene or the like.

The materials used in making the novel cap and opener of the present invention may be varied. However, it is preferred to form the body and handle portions 11 and 12 of steel, which may be conveniently and inexpensively formed to shape by stamping and which is preferably plated with nickel, chromium or other corrosion-resistant metal to minimize rusting. The roller 22 is preferably formed of a relatively hard, Wear-resistant, corrosionresistant material which, however, has some resilience. Although other materials may be used, nylon has been found very suitable. The pin supports 23 for the roller 22 are preferably formed of steel.

The manner in which the present novel bottle cap and opener is used is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 to 5. In FIGURE 3 the device is in position to remove a crown cap 4%) from a bottle 41. As will be seen the edge of the cap projects through the opening 27 and the cap engaging portions 28 and 29 of the opener engage, respectively, the edge and the top of the cap 4t Upward movement of the device easily removes the cap. FIG- URES 4 and 5 show the opener and cap in sealing position on the bottle 41. When used for sealing the armate tongue 17 on the body portion 11 is engaged under the head 42 at the mouth of the bottle and the body portion 11 is pressed down on the bottle while the handle portion 12 is extended substantially in line with the body 11. The roller 22 is thus placed under the bead 42 diametrically opposite the tongue 17. The handle portion 12 is then pivoted-downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 4 whereby the cams 31 thereof engage the pin support 23 of the roller 22 and force the latter into tight contact with the lower edge of the bead 42 as best shown in FIGURE 5. Limited lateral and upward movement of the roller is, of course, permitted by the elongated bosses 19 in which the pin portions of the roller are held. The resilient sealing disc 35 is thereby held so firmly against the mouth of the bottle that no leakage of liquid or ga can occur under normal conditions.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the present invention provides a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is convenient and eflicient in operation. As may be seen, the two portions of the device may be folded together and when so folded it is easy to carry and requires little space. The cap and opener may be easily washed and/or sterilized if desired, thereby maintaining it in a sanitary condition.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible to modification and that variations from the illustrated construction are not excluded from the scope of the invention except as they may be excluded by'the appended claims. 3

I claim:

1. A bottle cap comprising a body portion and a handle portion pivotally connected thereto, said body portion having a tongue formed as a thin resilient flange at the forward end thereof and adapted to engage a bottle, means comprising a roller spaced from said tongue adapted to engage said bottle at a diametrically opposite point, said handle portion having means operative to force said first mentioned means into contact with said bottle, and a resilient sealing member adapted to firmly engage the mouth of said bottle.

2. A bottle cap as set forth in claim 1 in which said second mentioned means comprises a cam adapted to engage a portion of said roller.

3. A bottle cap comprising a body portion and a handle portion pivotally connected thereto, said body portion comprising a peripheral depending flange andhaving a rounded portion at oneend containing a resilient sealing member, said flange at the rounded extremity ofsaid body portion being extended inwardly to form a bottle-engaging tongue, said body portion also having, spaced longitudinally from said tongue, a roller adapted to engage a bottle and having limited movement with respect to said tongue,

said handle portion having cams adapted to engage said roller and force, it into tight contact With a bottle when the body portion is mounted thereon.

flange, said flange being extending inwardly at the rounded extremity of said body port-ion to form a bottleengaging tongue and, adjacent the other extremity of said body portion, being extended to formparallel, spaced bearing portions, said locking handle portion being pivotally mounted on said bearing portions; a resilient sea-ling member carried by said body portion in the rounded portion thereof and adapted to engage the mouth of a bottle; and a roller spaced longitudinally from said tongue and rotatably supported between said bearing port-ions; said handle pontion having cams adapted to engage said roller and force it into tight contact with a bottle when said body portion is mounted on said bottle with said sealing member covering the mouth thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,037 9/10 Gilfillan 2'l5-46 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,235 6/33 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. A BOTTLE CAP COMPRISING A BODY PORTION AND A HANDLE PORTION PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THERETO, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A TONGUE FORMED AS A THIN RESILIENT FLANGE AT THE FORWARD END THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A BOTTLE, MEANS COMPRISING A ROLLER SPACED FROM SAID TORQUE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID BOTTLE AT A DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE POINT, SAID HANDLE PORTION HAVING MEANS OPERATIVE TO FORCE SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANS INTO CONTACT WITH SAID BOTTLE, AND A RESILIENT SEALING MEMBER ADAPTED TO FIRMLY ENGAGE THE MOUTH OF SAID BOTTLE. 